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Can I Have a C-section

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
I really want to have a c section but my doctor doesn't want me to. Can I have a c section anyway?

ANSWER

I think it would be a good idea to really think about why you do not want to have labor. Is it because you can't control when it happens? Welcome to parenthood! Is it because you fear the pain? There are many ways to handle that, and labor pain is certainly less and doesn't last as long as cesarean pain (which may be for a lifetime). Do you have a history of abuse? Or is it something else?

The reason your doctor does not want to do it is that it increases the chance that you or your baby or your future babies will have problems, some very serious, some even resulting in losing your uterus or even death. The safest way by far to have a baby is to let Mother Nature do her thing when she is ready. There are doctors who will do a cesarean anyway and you can change to one of those, but like your current doctor, I can't recommend that you do so. You might consider getting a certified doula to help you overcome any fears you might have. Meanwhile, you might go to www.childbirthconnection.org and read the scientific information about cesareans so you are well-informed about that option. My opinion is that cesarean should be reserved for those cases where the life or health of mother or baby is in imminent danger.

--Cynthia, CNM

Cynthia Flynn

Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.

Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.